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Oxygen occurs in nature as a mixture of isotopes 16O, 17O, and 18O having atomic masses of 15.995 u, 16.999 u and 17.999 u and relative abundance of 99.763%, 0.037% and 0.200% respectively. What is the average atomic mass of oxygen?
  • a)
    15.999 u
  • b)
    16.999 u
  • c)
    17.999 u
  • d)
    18.999 u
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Oxygen occurs in nature as a mixture of isotopes 16O, 17O, and 18O hav...
Atomic mass of oxygen
= 15.999 u
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Oxygen occurs in nature as a mixture of isotopes 16O, 17O, and 18O hav...
**Average Atomic Mass Calculation**

The average atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of its isotopes, taking into account their relative abundances.

To calculate the average atomic mass of oxygen, we will use the formula:

Average Atomic Mass = (mass of isotope 1 × relative abundance of isotope 1) + (mass of isotope 2 × relative abundance of isotope 2) + ...

Let's calculate the average atomic mass of oxygen using the given data:

1. Isotope 16O:
- Mass = 15.995 u
- Relative abundance = 99.763%

2. Isotope 17O:
- Mass = 16.999 u
- Relative abundance = 0.037%

3. Isotope 18O:
- Mass = 17.999 u
- Relative abundance = 0.200%

**Calculation:**

Average Atomic Mass = (15.995 u × 99.763%) + (16.999 u × 0.037%) + (17.999 u × 0.200%)

= (15.987985 u) + (0.006293 u) + (0.035998 u)

= 16.030276 u

Therefore, the average atomic mass of oxygen is approximately 16.030 u.

**Comparison with Options**

Now let's compare the calculated average atomic mass with the given options:

a) 15.999 u
b) 16.999 u
c) 17.999 u
d) 18.999 u

The closest option to our calculated value of 16.030 u is option A, 15.999 u.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A, 15.999 u.

**Explanation:**

The average atomic mass of an element is influenced by both the masses of its isotopes and their relative abundances. In the case of oxygen, the most abundant isotope is 16O, which has a mass of 15.995 u and a relative abundance of 99.763%. This isotope contributes significantly to the average atomic mass. The other two isotopes, 17O and 18O, have higher masses but much lower relative abundances. As a result, their contributions to the average atomic mass are relatively small. The average atomic mass of oxygen is therefore closer to the mass of the most abundant isotope, 16O.
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Oxygen occurs in nature as a mixture of isotopes 16O, 17O, and 18O having atomic masses of 15.995 u, 16.999 u and 17.999 u and relative abundance of 99.763%, 0.037% and 0.200% respectively. What is the average atomic mass of oxygen?a)15.999 ub)16.999 uc)17.999 ud)18.999 uCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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